Karen Dawkins: Christmas Memories

Christmas 2010 may be our best Christmas ever!

Ellie and I both wore dresses Christmas Eve to church. Her request.

Ellie thinks the ornament on the tree makes it look like she's wearing a crown!
She sure is God's little princess!

Ellie got to see Santa -- which she really wanted to do all season but we never thought would happen! She wrote notes to Santa and Rudolph and put them in her stocking. He wrote back!

Ellie and Santa.
"Oh shoot. I forgot to ask if I made the kind of nice list."
She is sooo funny! Came up with that one all by herself.

Ellie's note from Santa. He knows the real reason for the season!

Santa even brought presents for Grandma and Grandpa. He's so kind!

The kids were so thoughtful with their gift giving to one another.

Ben and Nathan
These are supposed to be their thoughtful, pondering faces. Nice try, Ben.
Penguin paper for Ben. He loves penguins!

The Christmas book. A family tradition.
Nathan appreciates it now that he's "old." Ellie and Ben, not yet.

Nathan and Ellie always share a big smile!
He prayed her into our family and adores her to this day!

Our first Christmas with darling Daisy.

Daisy got a new bed and she loves it!

Hard to tell here, but the snow was as deep as she is tall!
She loved the snow!

My parents joined us for the first time ever, venturing here despite predictions of wacky winter weather.

Grandma Lori and Ellie

Grandpa Bob, Ben and Grandpa's new tie for his cruise vacation!
Ties by Ben. Grandpa is stylin'!

Grandpa and Grandma give Christmas with the grandkids two thumbs up!

The snow arrived, just before midnight Christmas night, giving our part of North Carolina our first "official" white Christmas since 1947! Really, though, the snow could have arrived just a few hours earlier... not that I'm picky or anything.

Ben and friends gave the red car a mohawk in honor of Uncle Jim.
He was stuck at home in the icy mountains of SC taking care of the dogs.
We love you, Uncle Jim, even if you give my kids weapons (see below).

Caleb, Nathan, Ben, Caroline and Ellie
The Fry/Dawkins snow day traditions continue.
Fun times!

Ellie and Daddy made a snowman.
Not easy in this snow -- a little soft -- but Daddy was determined!

The finished product, decorated with colored golf balls
-- and a plumbline powder "skirt."

Bonus time with the grandparents. They tried heading home ahead of the storm, but the black ice changed their plans. Instead, we had an extra day together. Grandma and Rob beat Grandpa and Karen at pinochle. They got lucky -- especially since Grandma couldn't remember what trump was called! We demand a do-over! Right, Grandpa?

My parents' SC car has never seen snow like this before!
It seems to like it though. :)

And the best wrapped gift of all time -- well, except the newborn King, wrapped in swaddling clothes and laid in a manger!!! (From Uncle Jim. The paper he chose said, "Let there be peace on earth." My brother has quite the sense of humor!)